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Despite its reputation as a socially conservative state, registered voters in Texas indicated that they overwhelmingly want state-funding for birth control, a new poll conducted for Texas Freedom Network shows.

The poll was conducted earlier this month in a joint effort by Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg and Republican pollster Robert Carpenter.

While 73 percent of Texans said they supported the state providing contraceptive care for low-income women, another
84 percent said they favored teaching contraception, including use of condoms, along with abstinence in high school sex education.

Texas Freedom Network president Kathy Miller said the polls tells her, “The pill is not fair game in the culture wars.”

Carpenter said that the numbers cuts across all demographic groups – including Catholics, Republican women, Hispanics and those who attend religious services at least once a week.

“It’s an extremely high number that I don’t think any elected official can ignore,” he said.

While the issue has not perculated into Texas elective races yet, the strong support for contraception could prove to be a strong issue in the long-term, Greenberg said.

“It’s kind of a canary in the coal mine,” she said.

Other poll numbers showed 56 percent oppose allowing employers, based on religious or moral beliefs, to be able to deny contraceptive services through employee health plans.

Also, 57 percent said they opposed the funding cuts made last legislative session to women’s health programs.

Greenberg said she was surprised at “the depth an intensity of support,” on contraceptive issues.

The statewide telephone poll of 604 registered voters was conducted Feb. 6-11 and has a sampling error of 3.9 percent in either direction.